Advent calendar

Ah, the good old tradition of the Advent calendar, counting down the days to Christmas ... in the past years I was only a day ot two ahead with the fillings, which was kind of stressful. But this year I have the calendar up and ready one day before December 1st, hooray!

My husband's calendar was trickier to get together since he doesn't play with Playmobil anymore. Foods (and drinks!) are always a good option.

I wrapped everything in Trader Joe's paper bags, taped it shut with recycled tape and hung it with sturdy string. Quite environmentally friendly, if I may say so myself, and nice colors - I like the combination of red and white on kraft paper. Other than my daughter's calendar (which will be filled once she is in bed) this one doesn't have numbers and will get shorter with days gone by.

Do you make Advent calendars?

DIY Advent wreath

 In Germany we celebrate the four Sundays before Christmas as the time of Advent. Each Sunday we light a candle and sing a song to remind us of the coming of Christ - not that we are super religious, but I love this tradition and it helps me to be more rooted in the present.

The first Advent Sunday was two days ago (ahem) and I'd like to show you how we do our Advent wreath - it is pretty easy and makes a nice centerpiece for your table, even if you don't celebrate Advent as we do.

You need:

:: needle branches - we get ours from Home Depot, where they are left over from the Christmas tree trimming and free!

:: a straw wreath (e.g. from Michaels)

:: florist greening pins (e.g. from Michaels, in the florist section)

:: scissors and a little saw just in case

:: optional: gold tread and candle holders

Step 1: Cut the branches and pin them into the inside of the wreath. I like the ends and tips to overlap slightly and then pin them in place (no picture).

Step 2: Pin the outside, then the top.

Step 3: Have your little helper cut more green branches and stick them into any 'bald' spots.

Step 4: Now pin any wayward branches in place and loop gold thread around (I was out of pins, so that worked just fine!)

 Step 5: Position the candle holders and stick the candles on. Ours were a little loose so we glued them onto the holders with hot glue.

Step 6: Decorate your wreath with ribbon, cookies, nuts, ornaments, ...

Step 7: Have a cookie while enjoying your work!

 

 Sophia loves cracking nuts, so she saved some for eating ;)

 

The little leftover branches were stuck into our grapevine wreath on the front door. Pretty, no?

Last year we made a forest out of the leftover twigs by sticking them into blocks of air dry clay. Great for playing! What do you use needle branches for?

fall leaf garland

When we came home from the park the other day I carried lots and lots of leaves in my purse. I put them under the sewing machine and out came this easy and quick garland. We used it for an impromptu Thanksgiving decoration (yes, this post comes a little late...).

Giving thanks

:: for our first little harvest

:: for a cheerful, creative child

:: for bear hugs

:: for having everything cleaned and ready for the pie baking this morning

:: for shared coffee with a little Silk Nog

:: for the love of my life

:: for little girl's hair

:: for staying connected through oceans apart

:: for the scent of fresh pies baking

:: for a roof over our head and good food in our bellies

:: for pillows, stuffy toys, and play clay

 

What are giving thanks for this very moment?

Almost famous ...

 We've mysteriously made it into the Bay Area Parent Education & Enrichment Guide (page 10-13) - thank you, Cecilia, for discovering the article! It is about raising bilingual children and who is giving good advice to all the parents out there? Kevin! I had no idea (and neither had he - funny, no?).

November musings

 The other day Sophia came home with a new book from the school library (right, not the public library - now try to keep those books seperated). She has always had a strong interest in the creepy stuff, so the book she brought was not a suprise. When we read it, though, it suddenly struck me: that was me, right there:

The book is Monster Mama by Liz Rosenberg. Now I'm not saying I'm a monster (usually), but I often do feel somewhat odd when it comes to parenting here in the States. Being from a different country ("Nah, my mommy is out of Germany!") and culture I tend to do things differently. Mostly not on purpose, but hey, some things, yes. We walk to school instead of driving. My kindergartener doesn't need a huge backpack AND lunch tote for the Wednesday folder. I don't think it's a problem that she can't write her numbers from 0 to 10. I do think kids should not be fed candy at school on non-birthday days. They shouldn't be pressured into selling stuff to collect money for the school either. I don't entertain her at the playground, because that's not what a playground full of kids is for. And no, we don't have a TV and she picks movies from the library.

When it comes to taking part in school life, my husband usually drops hint like "In American culture, it is expected that you ..." Write Thank You-cards. Call back immediately and offer to help. Purr over it and then toss it later. Why this is very helpful, it does remind me that I am far from knowing how to be in this culture.

Having a child I can't just step back and do things my way. I need to be out there, need to be involved and know how to work with what we got here (here I might differ from Monster Mama - she always stays hidden). This sometimes gets exhausting, but I know it's not for me, it's for Sophia who I will love no matter what - because I am her mother, even if I am a monster/German/...

Happy Birthday, girl!

My sweet little bee turned 5 this week - oh my, time flies! And she has gotten so LONG ...

We had our first kids party yesterday and it was a lot of fun! Right when my husband and me were wondering how to pull his off, we got an e-mail from The Golden Apple telling us that we won a monster birthday party for Sophia - hooray!

So we invited eight kids and spend an afternoon with a fluffy monster and a mad professor, did all kinds of slimy and gooey experiments, listened to a story, made worms and dirt, ate chocolate cupcake, and watched a soda geyser explode. Good times! Except for the cupcakes everything was provided by the store and every child got to take home a goodie bag. Now if that wasn't the easiest party ever!

This week is so busy! On my sewing machine: pink zebra shorts in-the-making (Halloween party Saturday- not mine!). In the hallway: a package with ornaments from my shop, waiting to be shipped. Somewhere in Sophia's room: two DVDs that are due. Also mysterious library book from school library wating to be discovered. On my computer: food ideas for birthday party on Saturday. On my desk: chaos. Also: I'll be classroom helper today and my shop needs updating. Oh boy, there is just not enough hours in the day (especially if you like to hop into bed with your book at 8pm).

She might be at school ...

 

... but she is not out of sight!

After a morning of singing, drawing, hopping on the bed, a few clothes changes, scattering dried up bits of play doh all over the floor, and skipping to school horsey-style the house seems blissfully (and strangely!) quiet. How only one tiny person can change the energy around is nothing short of amazing.

I signed her up for a contest of her school's PTA titled "Diversity means ..." - turns out diversity is very hard to draw when you enjoy matching objects. Yesterday we set out different art materials that were allowed (no sculpting and no objects protruding from the page - shame!) and after looking up diversity on a kids' site she worked away.

 

While the only real diversity I can see is the diversity of pictures she produced she did have a great time drawing and painting. My favorite might just be The Piggy Bank and the Banana Tree.

  

On the weekend when Kevin and Sophia were visiting with family I learned something new!

The last time I went to San Francisco I discovered beautiful Fillmore Street and a shop called Paper Source. There, after spending an hour looking at all the great inspring things, I got a foto album kit that I tucked away until a quiet moment. And Sunday was the day!

I used some muslin and a big drawing from Sophia. Now I only need time to put in all my fotos!

 

Big steps

 Yesterday I overheared Sophia sounding out letters and humming to herself on the balcony. When I peeked around the corner I saw her writing and drawing on the chalk board. Seeing the letters she has been carrying around with her take shape was fascinating.

She asked me for help eventually and finished off her work by drawing mouths on the letters - in the shape they make when they are spoken (lots of teeth on D).

Sweet, sweet girl of mine. And this morning you didn't even want a goodbye kiss before school. After I asked you why (shocked and a little bit hurt I admis) you rolled your eyes and gave in. Almost five is not too old for kisses, right? Right?

Nothing soothes better than a day old cheesecake. I found the recipe in radically simple and simple it was:

6 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
5 oz honey grahm crackers
(1/2 walnuts or pecans - Kevin hates nuts in baked goods, so none for us)
1 1/4 c sugar
3 large eggs
16 oz cream cheese
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp cornstarch
24 oz sour cream

Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter a sprinform with 2 Tbsp butter.

Crush the crackers (, nuts,) and 1/4 c sugar, add 4 Tbsp melted butter and put it in the bottom of the pan to form a crust.

now you basically mix everything else together very slowly - first the eggs, then cream cheese, the cup sugar, vanilla, cornstarch, 1/4 tsp salt and sour cream. Pour onto the crust and bake for 50 minutes, until firm.

Top with fruit, chocolate shavings, or enjoy pure like I do. Mmmh ...

Cookies up!

Polymer clay German Christmas Cookies, that is. And they are finally up in my Etsy shop!

Kevin took Sophia out for brats and football while I strung the cookies, gathered props, and set up an impromptu photo studio on the balcony (natural light!). Is it fair to say that this took my all Sunday? Well, yes. Am I glad it is in the shop? Well, YES!

I also have pretzel pendants and brooches patiently waiting to be put up, but that will happen another time.

Come have look at the cookies and let me know what you think. Maybe your favorite Christmas cookie is still missing?

Have a great start of the week everyone!

Sweet polymer clay

I think I have a new hobby!

Ever since Etsy lauched its Holiday Bootcamp I am getting more and more excited about my little shop there - I should really get going and stock it! So this morning while I was wondering what to put up I came across my 1984 cook book and pondered over the Christmas pages. And there it struck me - cookies! Not the edible kind, but for decorations. Think Christmas tree, advent wreath, in the window, ...

I looked up polymer clay on the internet and set out to Michael's. What can I say, it was polymer clay heaven. They even had good old German Fimo ;) I bought a few things, hurried home to explore and, you guessed it, it was tons of fun!

When Sophia came home from school she got excited, too, and so we crafted together for quite a while. She made ice cream and cookies for her dolls.

These cookies will probably be the next item in my Etsy shop, what do you think?

Itty-bitty coin purse

Ever since I had seen the tutorial in Molly Makes I had been wanting to make my own little coin purse. Alas, I could't find the frame at Joann's online or on Etsy within my price range so I gave up on it. Until one busy morning last week when I was waiting at Joann's for my cutting table number to be called out. I browsed through the isles and suddenly bumped into a wall full of purse pieces and, yes, frames! Ding!

Today was the day, with Sophia at Kindergarten, the workers outside turning the water off just after I had gotten enough for a cup of tea, jazzradio.com in the background and a clean kitchen table - pure bliss. It was fun to sew despite of all the ruffles and turned out true to it's name: tiny ... and very cute.

Custom order, anyone? For material + shipping cost and a bar of chocolate? :)

Tuesday morning

 Ever since the little pumkin started Kindergarten I feel the need to fill my three free hours in the morning with as much as possible. Of course, this was bound to fail ... So now I am NOT getting in the car to rush to the mall to look for things to wear at the concert while watching the time and rushing back to prepare lunch we can eat in the car on our way to work before fetching Sophia from school. Instead I harvest the first of our mystery beans. Wouldn't it be fun to toss them in the soup tonight?

Then I take a look at my stash of fabric, get out a yard stick, and begin making a bag. Every day on my way from and to school I wish I had a small little bag to just fit my phone and keys, maybe my wallet. Like those hippie crochet bags we had back in high school. And now I make one. No pattern, just eyeballing. And breathing.

 It turned out just fine.

 

 

Now it is almost time to walk to school and enjoy the little bag.

True, I didn't get quite as much done as I had planned but I feel a lot more relaxed - what's better?

A friend of mine was so kind to lend me the first three issues of the magazine Molly Makes and I was smitten! You should check it out. Anyway, yesterday we found this little guy in there and there was no way Sophia would allow me to turn the page without making one for here. So there :)

Making a dog softie

What a busy week! The following project was done sometime last weekend, but it was somuch fun I wanted to share it with you. Here we go!

First I ironed freezer paper on the wrong side of the fabric, to give it a little more stability.

Then Sophia drew a dog on it with a Sharpie pen. Fun!

I cut it out and cut a second backing piece from the same fabric (Sophia insisted). It could also be a nice patterned fabric.

Right sides together ...

... and sew around it leaving a little opening for turning.

Sophia turned it "inside ouside" and filled it with "Mommel", her word for the stuffing.

Mama sewed the opening closed ...

...and the dog was loved, loved, loved ...

... all day!